Robert "Bob" Harvey Starrett

Robert "Bob" Harvey Starrett, 97, formerly of 26 Rosewood Lane, Pekin, IL, passed away at The Linda E. White Hospice House, surrounded by loved ones, on June 15, 2023. Bob and Carole Gulon were married September 6, 1950. Bob is survived by his wife of 72 years, Carole; daughter, Susan Starrett Bolen (Terry) of Pekin, IL; son, Dr. Robert Scott Starrett (Pamela) of Newburgh, IN; and four grandchildren: Jason Bolen (Stacy) of Pekin; Nicole Starrett Cerman (Jason) of Indianapolis, IN; Emily Starrett Opell (Aaron) of Newburgh, IN; and Kelsey Starrett Huber (Sean) of Newburgh, IN; and four great-grandchildren: Justin Paul Bolen, Vincent Aaron Opell, Ashton Rhett Opell, Hudson Lee Huber, and one step great-grandson Jackson Slagle of Pekin, IL. Bob is preceded in death by his parents and five siblings: Helen Starrett Wilson, of Manito, IL, in 2005; John Ray Starrett, of Manito, IL, in 2005; Anna Mae Starrett Lightbody of Peoria, IL, in 1994; Chadwick Enos Starrett of Manito, IL, in 1963; and Barbara Starrett Hasselberg of Peoria, IL, in 2006. He was born at the Starrett family farm home in rural Manito, IL, September 14, 1925, to Ray Hyers and Mae Ruth (Harvey) Starrett. Bob was the youngest of their six children and the last surviving child. Bob often recalled fond memories and told stories of growing up on the farm and attending a country school with his siblings and friends in the Manito area. Bob was a charter member of the Greatest Generation of World War II. He enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 16 on August 26, 1942. For five years, a ship in the Pacific Ocean was his home. He participated in the first Allied Invasion of World War II, Operation Torch which was under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General George Patton. He was also in naval activities at Pearl Harbor, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Guam during the war. He participated in the invasion and also in the last battle of the war on April 1, 1945, (Operation Iceberg at Okinawa, Ruyu-Islands, Pacific Ocean). He participated in the invasion and occupation of Saipan and Tinian (The Marianas Campaign), the First Battle of the Philippine Sea (the Marianas Turkey Shoot), the Palau invasion, and participated in the first raid on Manilla. He was in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of Formosa, the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, and operated in support of the Luzon invasion. He took part in the first raid on Indochina and the China Coast and in the Tokyo and Empire raids in February 1945. Bob participated in the landings and capture of Iwo Jima and was one fourth mile off the coast with the USS Stockham, furnishing first support when the flag was raised on Mt. Suribachi. The USS Stockham earned eight battle stars while serving in the Pacific Theatre. He was a plank owner of the destroyer USS Stockham (DD683) serving as boatsman mate and was in eight major naval battles of WWII. Bob sailed with Admiral Bull Halsey in Typhoon Cobra, December of 1944 where 800 perished. He was in the U.S. Navy for five years and three months, discharged October 1947 and then joined the U.S. Naval Reserves. Nine days after he was married, he was recalled for active duty in the Korean War in September 1950, was in the invasion of Pusan, Korea and discharged in 1952. For his Korean service, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with one bronze battle star, National Defense Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. Bobs honors and accolades for his service years were numerous: World War II: American Theatre Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver battle star (which signifies five bronze battle stars) and another bronze battle star, Philippine Liberation Medal and two bronze battle stars, navy Occupation Service Medal, Navy China Service Medal, Navy World War II Good Conduct Medal and with one bronze service star, and the World War II Victory Medal. Bob was, in Navy terms, a "Shellback," having entered the domain of Neptunus Rex Ruler of the Raging Main and crossed the equator and international date line numerous times during his service. He had the honor of piping Admiral Spruance, Commander of the Fifth Fleet, aboard ship. After his discharge from the U. S. Navy in 1947, Bob was employed by Centel, a local telephone company in Pekin, Illinois, which was then purchased by Sprint. He retired from Sprint in 1982 after 35 years of service as customer service supervisor of construction. Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed being involved in his local community, serving through many organizations and leadership roles. Bob was a life member of the VFW Roy L. King Post 1232 and served as a board member and a past commander in 1999-2000. He was a past member of the American Legion Post in Morton, Illinois; a charter member and a past board Member and president of the Centel Pioneers Chapter 309; a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pekin for sixty years. Bob was also a former member of Masonic Lodge 126, AF&AM in Pekin; a former member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria and Mohammed Temple of Peoria; a former member and board member of Pekin Elks PBOE 1272. He served on the Pekin Housing Authority Board 14 years, serving one year as chairman. In addition, he was instrumental in forming and serving on the first Race Relations Committee of the City of Pekin for several years and served as chairman for one year. In 2006 he originated and chaired a reunion of Tazewell County World War II veterans and their spouses. Over 400 people attended a free luncheon and program at the Moose Club on the 65th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, made possible by donations from private and local businesses in the county. Bob was a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the General Joseph Bartholomew Chapter of Bloomington, Illinois, through the service of his ancestor Stewart Sterrett who served with the militia of Frederick County, Maryland at Yorktown, Virginia, when General Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington on October 18, 1781. Bob was awarded two war service medals for his service in World War II and the Korean Conflict from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Bob's lineage has been published in the book Harvey, Hayhurst, Johnson, and Starrett First Families of America. Bob enjoyed being with his family. He loved his family more than anything, and he let them know how much he loved them often. In his spare time, he also enjoyed upland game hunting as a youth and adult. He was a certified instructor by the state of Illinois to teach safety hunting courses. "Home is the sailor, home from sea, And the hunter home from the hill." ("Requiem" by Robert Louis Stevenson) Private funeral arrangements will be made by Browning Funeral Home in Evansville, Indiana. In addition, there will be a funeral service at Henderson Funeral Home in Pekin, IL. He will be laid to rest in Meadow Lawn Cemetery in Manito, IL. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Linda E. White Hospice House. Contributions can be made here: www.deaconess.com/For-You/Donors-and-Volunteers/Give-Now. Condolences may be made online at www.browningfuneral.com and www.hendersonfuneralcare.com.